The Resurgence of the Snake Men in Masters of the Universe


In the realm of Masters of the Universe, a captivating storyline emerged with the introduction of the formidable Snake Men. Although their appearance in the franchise was a later addition, significant adjustments were made to seamlessly incorporate these characters into the existing mythos of Eternia.

The Ancient Threat:

Once upon a time, the Snake Men constituted a relentless and expansive army that conquered numerous worlds under the tyrannical rule of King Hiss. Their insidious quest for dominance brought them to the gates of Eternia, where they established their stronghold, Snake Mountain. However, the Snake Men underestimated the power of the Elders of Eternia, who, wielding their magic, banished King Hiss and his army into a limbo-like dimension. The Snake Men’s empire crumbled, but a small number of them remained on Eternia. Years later, Skeletor would free King Hiss, ultimately paving the way for their ominous collaboration.

Once upon a time, the Snake Men constituted a relentless and expansive army that conquered numerous worlds under the tyrannical rule of King Hiss. Their insidious quest for dominance brought them to the gates of Eternia, where they established their stronghold, Snake Mountain. However, the Snake Men underestimated the power of the Elders of Eternia, who, wielding their magic, banished King Hiss and his army into a limbo-like dimension. The Snake Men's empire crumbled, but a small number of them remained on Eternia. Years later, Skeletor would free King Hiss, ultimately paving the way for their ominous collaboration.

The Alliance of Hiss and Skeletor:

In an unexpected turn of events, King Hiss and Skeletor formed an uneasy alliance, driven by their shared ambition to conquer Eternia and eliminate their greatest adversary, He-Man. Kobra Khan, a loyal minion of Skeletor, served as the ambassador between Skeletor and King Hiss. Together, these villains sought to unleash the full might of the Snake Men upon Eternia. However, their combined magical powers were only strong enough to resurrect two snake soldiers, Tung Lashor and Rattlor. Recognizing the need for greater magic, Hiss and Skeletor set their sights on He-Man’s Power Sword, intending to harness its power for their nefarious purposes. Yet, He-Man managed to break free and thwart their plans, preventing the resurrection of the entire reptilian army.

In an unexpected turn of events, King Hiss and Skeletor formed an uneasy alliance, driven by their shared ambition to conquer Eternia and eliminate their greatest adversary, He-Man. Kobra Khan, a loyal minion of Skeletor, served as the ambassador between Skeletor and King Hiss. Together, these villains sought to unleash the full might of the Snake Men upon Eternia. However, their combined magical powers were only strong enough to resurrect two snake soldiers, Tung Lashor and Rattlor. Recognizing the need for greater magic, Hiss and Skeletor set their sights on He-Man's Power Sword, intending to harness its power for their nefarious purposes. Yet, He-Man managed to break free and thwart their plans, preventing the resurrection of the entire reptilian army.

Unyielding Ambitions:

Undeterred by their initial setback, King Hiss and Skeletor persisted in their pursuit of conquest. The two villains, once again pooling their magical abilities, embarked on a scheme to raise three ancient towers that had been buried for ages by the Elders of Eternia. These towers held immense power—the Grayskull Tower represented good, the Viper Tower symbolized evil, and the Central Tower possessed a balance of both. Hiss and Skeletor each harbored secret plans to betray the other once they controlled the towers. Although Skeletor failed to conquer the Central Tower, which would have granted him access to all three, King Hiss successfully seized the Viper Tower. Utilizing its dark magic, he managed to summon two more Snake Men from the limbo-like dimension: Snake Face and Sssqueeze.

The Final Confrontation:

In an intense battle within Viper Tower, He-Man ingeniously turned all the Snake Men into stone by reflecting Snake Face’s petrifying power back at them. Snake Face and Sssqueeze made further appearances in the minicomic “Energy Zoids.” Later, He-Man and the Sorceress ventured into the past of Eternia, witnessing the Snake Men’s initial invasion. Although the Sorceress sought to prevent He-Man from altering history, Skeletor clandestinely followed them. Upon arrival, Skeletor joined forces with King Hiss, claiming that his magic could aid in destroying the Elders. King Hiss, suspecting a connection to the Unnamed One they served, accepted Skeletor’s offer. In a spectacular clash, He-Man, Skeletor, King Hiss, and the Snake Men waged war, riding on the backs of mechanically augmented dinosaurs. However, their battle was interrupted by a shadowy figure known as He-Ro, who sent them back to the future, leaving the ultimate fate of the Snake Men a mystery as the Masters of the Universe toyline and accompanying mini-comics came to an end.

In an intense battle within Viper Tower, He-Man ingeniously turned all the Snake Men into stone by reflecting Snake Face's petrifying power back at them. Snake Face and Sssqueeze made further appearances in the minicomic "Energy Zoids." Later, He-Man and the Sorceress ventured into the past of Eternia, witnessing the Snake Men's initial invasion. Although the Sorceress sought to prevent He-Man from altering history, Skeletor clandestinely followed them. Upon arrival, Skeletor joined forces with King Hiss, claiming that his magic could aid in destroying the Elders. King Hiss, suspecting a connection to the Unnamed One they served, accepted Skeletor's offer. In a spectacular clash, He-Man, Skeletor, King Hiss, and the Snake Men waged war, riding on the backs of mechanically augmented dinosaurs. However, their battle was interrupted by a shadowy figure known as He-Ro, who sent them back to the future, leaving the ultimate fate of the Snake Men a mystery as the Masters of the Universe toyline and accompanying mini-comics came to an end.

Snake Men in Animation:

While the Snake Men did not make an appearance in Filmation’s animated series, one exception was Kobra Khan, who had been introduced earlier in the franchise as a snake figure in Skeletor’s service. In subsequent storylines, Kobra Khan served as a go-between for both Skeletor and King Hiss. Additionally, two Snake Men, Rattlor and Tung Lashor, were adapted to appear in the spin-off series She-Ra: Princess of Power. In this adaptation, they served as members of the Evil Horde, deviating from their origins as Snake Men. Notably, Tung Lashor’s portrayal and allegiance in one episode were inconsistent, as he inexplicably worked for Skeletor while still wearing a Horde emblem.

While the Snake Men did not make an appearance in Filmation's animated series, one exception was Kobra Khan, who had been introduced earlier in the franchise as a snake figure in Skeletor's service. In subsequent storylines, Kobra Khan served as a go-between for both Skeletor and King Hiss. Additionally, two Snake Men, Rattlor and Tung Lashor, were adapted to appear in the spin-off series She-Ra: Princess of Power. In this adaptation, they served as members of the Evil Horde, deviating from their origins as Snake Men. Notably, Tung Lashor's portrayal and allegiance in one episode were inconsistent, as he inexplicably worked for Skeletor while still wearing a Horde emblem.

The Snake Men Resurgence:

In the 2002 TV series produced by Mike Young Productions, the Snake Men played a significant role in the second season, leading to the renaming of the season as “Masters of the Universe Vs The Snake Men.” In this version, the Snake Men were a diverse group led by King Hiss, and their formidable presence posed a threat on par with Skeletor himself. Interestingly, Skeletor only appeared three times throughout the entire story arc, as the Snake Men engaged in conflict with both He-Man and Skeletor, rather than forging an alliance.

In the 2002 TV series produced by Mike Young Productions, the Snake Men played a significant role in the second season, leading to the renaming of the season as "Masters of the Universe Vs The Snake Men." In this version, the Snake Men were a diverse group led by King Hiss, and their formidable presence posed a threat on par with Skeletor himself. Interestingly, Skeletor only appeared three times throughout the entire story arc, as the Snake Men engaged in conflict with both He-Man and Skeletor, rather than forging an alliance.

The Serpos of the Netflix Series:

In the Netflix series, the Snake Men were known as the Serpos, an army of undead snake creatures created by King Hiss. These creatures possessed the ability to regenerate upon destruction, thanks to the Havoc energy that birthed them. Prior to the present timeline, the Serpos menaced Eternia until their master, King Hiss, was defeated and sealed within a tomb by King Grayskull. After centuries of dormancy, Skeletor manipulated Krass to revive the Snake Men under her control, seeking to find Hiss’s tomb.

Prominent Snake Men Characters:

  1. King Hiss: The leader of the Snake Men, King Hiss possesses the ability to transform into a mass of snakes. He is a formidable and cunning adversary, seeking to conquer Eternia and eliminate his enemies.
  2. Rattlor: Rattlor is a loyal member of the Snake Men army. He has the unique ability to extend his neck and possesses a rattling tail, making him a dangerous opponent in battle.
  3. Tung Lashor: Known for his long, extendable tongue, Tung Lashor is a vicious Snake Man warrior. He uses his tongue to capture and immobilize his enemies, making him a formidable foe.
  4. Kobra Khan: Originally introduced as a minion of Skeletor, Kobra Khan serves as an ambassador between Skeletor and the Snake Men. He can spray a hypnotic mist, which disorients and manipulates his foes.
  5. Sssqueeze: Sssqueeze is a powerful Snake Man with incredibly long, bendable arms. He uses his unique physical abilities to constrict and crush his opponents, making him a formidable adversary.
  6. Snake Face: Snake Face possesses the ability to extend snakes from his face and shoulders, which can petrify his enemies upon contact. His petrifying gaze makes him a fearsome opponent in battle.
  7. Fang-Or: Fang-Or is the mechanical expert of the Snake Men. He is skilled in creating and operating advanced technology, often incorporating snake-like features into his inventions.
  8. Terroar: Terroar is an exile who assimilated traits from Evil Warriors, the Evil Horde, and the Snake Men. He is a formidable warrior with a fierce and relentless nature, always seeking to prove his strength.
  9. Lord Gr’Asp: Lord Gr’Asp is the master strategist of the Snake Men. He possesses a crab-like claw for a hand and is known for his tactical brilliance, often devising cunning plans to achieve victory.
  10. Snake Man Soldiers: These are the foot soldiers of the Snake Men army. They are numerous in number and serve as loyal soldiers, carrying out the orders of their leaders in battle.
  11. Snake Troopers: Snake Troopers are a fusion of Snake Man Soldiers and Horde Troopers’ technology. They are equipped with advanced weaponry and serve as elite soldiers in the Snake Men’s forces.

These characters each bring unique abilities and traits to the Snake Men faction, making them formidable adversaries for He-Man and his allies in the world of Eternia.

Don’t forget to check out the MOTU Origins Checklist for Snake Men action figures to complete your collection!

The inclusion of the Snake Men in the Masters of the Universe universe added an intriguing layer to the storyline, presenting a formidable ancient threat that tested the mettle of He-Man and his allies. Their varied appearances across different adaptations showcased their enduring appeal and captivated fans with their unique abilities. Whether it was their initial introduction, their resurgence in subsequent TV series, or their reinterpretation in the Netflix series, the Snake Men left an indelible mark on the Masters of the Universe franchise, solidifying their place as iconic adversaries in the realm of Eternia.